APPARATUS AND METHOD WITH MOBILE RELOCATION

• US 20120109420A1
• Filed: 10/31/2011
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Hyoung-Ki, Jung, Jong-Dae
• Granted Patent: US 8,594,860 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0234 using optical markers or beacons optical beacons per se G01S1/70
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0261 using magnetic plots
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30

Abstract

An apparatus and method relocating a robot. The apparatus may include a particle generating unit, a first distance obtaining unit, a second distance obtaining unit, and a position estimating unit. A plurality of particles may be generated on a map, a first distance may be obtained according to respective distances between each particle of the plurality of particles and a wireless communication apparatus, based on a position of the wireless communication apparatus and respective positions of each particle on the map, a second distance may be obtained according to respective determined distances between the wireless communication apparatus and the robot, based on a strength measure of the electromagnetic signal received by the robot from the wireless communication apparatus or based on an arrival time or time of flight of the electromagnetic signal, and a position of the robot may be estimated by comparing the first distance and the second distance.

Claims

1. An apparatus for relocating a robot, the apparatus comprising:

a particle generating unit configured to generate a plurality of particles and arrange the plurality of particles on a map;

a first distance obtaining unit configured to obtain a first distance according to respective distances between each particle of the plurality of particles and a wireless communication apparatus performing wireless communication with the robot, the respective distances being based on a position of the wireless communication apparatus and respective positions of each particle on the map;

a second distance obtaining unit configured to obtain a second distance according to a determined distance between the wireless communication apparatus and the robot, the determined distance being based on a strength measure of an electromagnetic signal received by the robot from the wireless communication apparatus or based on an arrival time or time of flight of the electromagnetic signal; and

a position estimating unit configured to estimate a position of the robot by use of the first distance and the second distance.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein coordinates of a select particle are chosen as the estimated position of the robot based on a select first distance, between the select particle and the wireless communication apparatus, being determined to more greatly approximate the second distance than respective alternate first distances between each of plural particles, other than the select particle, and the wireless communication apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first distance obtaining unit obtains the first distance, by calculating lengths of respective straight paths between the wireless communication apparatus and each particle,

wherein the first distance obtaining unit selectively generates one of the respective straight paths to be a detour path, including at least two straight paths detouring around an obstacle between the wireless communication apparatus and a corresponding particle and which extend along open spaces between the wireless communication apparatus and the corresponding particle.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the one respective straight path includes at least two straight path lines that are obtained in consideration of electromagnetic transmission characteristics of a transmission signal from the wireless communication apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first distance obtaining unit obtains the first distance by calculating a shortest signal transmission path of a transmission signal of the wireless communication apparatus, from respective signal transmission paths between the wireless communication apparatus and each particle, and using a length of the calculated shortest signal transmission path of the transmission signal as the first distance.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the transmission signal is the electromagnet signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second distance obtaining unit obtains the second distance as being a shortest signal transmission path of plural signal transmission paths between the robot and respective electromagnet signals of plural wireless communication apparatuses, based on strength measures of the respective electromagnetic signals or based on respective arrival times or time of flight times of the respective electromagnetic signals.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the position estimating unit calculates the position of the robot by calculating and/or modifying a respective weight assigned to each particle according to differences between respectively obtained first distances and at least the second distance.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the position estimating unit modifies the respective weights in consideration of the robot being in communication with plural wireless communication apparatuses, with respective first distances and respective second distances being calculated by the first distance obtaining unit and the second distance obtaining unit, respectively, using the plural wireless communication apparatuses.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic signal includes at least one of a radio frequency (RF) signal, an infrared ray signal, and an ultrasonic signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a robot location system comprising the robot and the wireless communication apparatus, with the robot comprising the particle generating unit, the first distance obtaining unit, the second distance obtaining unit, and the position estimating unit, separate from the wireless communication apparatus.

12. A method of relocating a robot, the method comprising:

generating a plurality of particles and arranging the plurality of particles on a map;

obtaining a first distance according to respective distances between each particle of the plurality of particles and a wireless communication apparatus performing wireless communication with the robot, the respective distances being based on a position of the wireless communication apparatus and respective positions of each particle on the map;

obtaining a second distance according to a determined distance between the wireless communication apparatus and the robot, the determined distance being based on a strength measure of an electromagnetic signal received from the wireless communication apparatus or based on an arrival time or time of flight of the electromagnetic signal; and

estimating a position of the robot by use of the first distance and the second distance.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising choosing coordinates of a select particle as the estimated position of the robot based on a select first distance, between the select particle and the wireless communication apparatus, being determined to more greatly approximate the second distance than respective alternate first distances between each of plural particles, other than the select particle, and the wireless communication apparatus.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein, in the obtaining of the first distance, the first distance is obtained by calculating lengths of respective straight paths between the wireless communication apparatus and each particle,

wherein one of the respective straight paths is selectively made to be a detour path, including at least two straight paths detouring around an obstacle between the wireless communication apparatus and a corresponding particle and which extend along open spaces between the wireless communication apparatus and the corresponding particle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the one respective straight path includes at least two straight path lines that are obtained in consideration of electromagnetic transmission characteristics of a transmission signal from the wireless communication apparatus.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein, in the obtaining of the first distance, the first distance is obtained by calculating a shortest signal transmission path of a transmission signal of the wireless communication apparatus, from respective signal transmission paths between the wireless communication apparatus and each particle, and using a length of the calculated shortest signal transmission path of the transmission signal as the first distance.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the transmission signal is the electromagnet signal.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein, in the obtaining of the second distance, the second distance is obtained as being a shortest signal transmission path of plural signal transmission paths between the robot and respective electromagnetic signals of plural wireless communication apparatuses, based on strength measures of the respective electromagnetic signals or based on respective arrival times or time of flight times of the respective electromagnetic signals.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein, in the estimating of the position, the position of the robot is estimated by calculating and/or modifying a respective weight assigned to each particle according to differences between respectively obtained first distances and at least the second distance.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein, in the estimating of the position, the respective weights are modified in consideration of the robot being in communication with plural wireless communication apparatuses, with respective first distances and respective second distances being calculated respectively using the plural wireless communication apparatuses.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the electromagnetic signal includes at least one of a radio frequency (RF) signal, an infrared ray signal, and an ultrasonic signal.